ANAHEIM, California, September 21, 2007 - USA Men took a 3-1 (25-20, 23-25, 25-22, 25-23) victory over Puerto Rico to win the gold medal at the 2007 NORCECA Men’s Continental Championship on Friday at the Anaheim Convention Center Arena.

With the victory, the USA Team claims an automatic berth into the FIVB World Cup held November 18-December 2 in Japan. Cuba defeated Canada 3-0 (38-36, 25-21, 25-22) to win the bronze medal.

Riley Salmon led the USA scoring attack with 16 points on 16 kills. Reid Priddy and Clay Stanley each added 15 points. David Lee compiled 12 points and Ryan Millar scored 10 points. Puerto Rico team captain Hector Soto led all scorers with 19 points and Jose Rivera and Victor Rivera each added 11 points.

Cuba’s Raydel Corrales Poutou led all scorers with 20 points, Oreol Camejo scored 14, Rolando Jurquin added 12 and Odelvis Dominico tallied 10 points. Canada was led by Fred Winters with 14 points. Dallas Soonias chipped in 12 points and Daniel Lewis contributed 10 points.

USA setter Lloy Ball was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and also won the Best Setter award. Clay Stanley was named the Best Server and Puerto Ricans and Victor Rivera were named Best Scorer and Best Spiker respectively.

USA Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon won the inaugural Jim Coleman Award as the tournament’s most outstanding coach.

The other award winners were Canada’s Murray Grapentine (Best Blocker) and Chris Wolfenden (Best Digger) and the Dominican Republic’s Elvis Daverson Contreras (Best Receiver) and Amaury Martinez (Best Libero).

2007 NORCECA Men’s Continental Championship Results
Final Standings:
Gold - USA
Silver – Puerto Rico
Bronze - Cuba
4th - Canada
5th - Dominican Republic
6th - Barbados
7th - Mexico
8th - Trinidad & Tobago

Individual Awards
Most Valuable Player: Lloy Ball (USA)
Best Scorer: Hector Soto (PUR)
Best Spiker: Victor Rivera (PUR)
Best Blocker: Murray Grapentine (CAN)
Best Server: Clay Stanley (USA)
Best Digger: Chris Wolfenden (CAN)
Best Setter: Lloy Ball (USA)
Best Receiver: Elvis Daverson Contreras (DOM)
Best Libero: Amaury Eduardo Martinez (DOM)
Jim E. Coleman Award: Hugh McCutcheon (USA)

Final Pool A Standings
United States 3-0
Puerto Rico 2-1
Mexico 1-2
Barbados 0-3

Group A: Barbados, Mexico, Puerto Rico, United States
Sept. 16: Puerto Rico def. Barbados 25-16, 15-17, 25-16
Sept. 16: United States def. Mexico 25-11, 25-15, 25-20
Sept. 17: Puerto Rico def. Mexico 25-15, 25-18, 25-20
Sept. 17: United States def. Barbados 25-13, 25-13, 25-4
Sept. 18: Mexico def. Barbados 25-14, 25-18, 18-25, 25-22
Sept. 18: USA def. Puerto Rico 25-19, 27-25, 25-18

Final Pool B Standings
Cuba 3-0
Canada 2-1
Dominican Republic 1-2
Trinidad & Tobago 0-3

Group B: Canada, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Trinidad & Tobago
Sept. 16: Cuba def. Trinidad & Tobago 25-13, 25-16, 25-19
Sept. 16: Canada def. Dominican Republic 25-21, 25-23, 25-20
Sept. 17: Canada def. Trinidad & Tobago 25-14, 25-14, 25-10
Sept. 17: Cuba def. Dominican Republic 25-13, 25-17, 25-17
Sept. 18: Dominican Republic def. Trinidad & Tobago 25-15, 25-20, 25-16
Sept. 18: Cuba def. Canada 25-22, 22-25, 25-23, 25-18

Quarterfinals
Sept. 19 (Match 13): Puerto Rico (2A) def. Dominican Republic (3B) 25-18, 25-19, 25-15
Sept. 19 (Match 14): Canada (2B) def. Mexico (3A) 25-19, 25-17, 25-21

Classification Round 5
Sept. 20 (Match 15): Dominican Republic (3B) def. Trinidad & Tobago (4B), 21-25, 25-14, 25-21, 25-19
Sept. 20 (Match 16): Barbados (4A) def. Mexico (3A) 25-23, 22-25, 19-25, 25-18, 17-15

Semifinals
Sept. 20 (Match 18): Puerto Rico (2A) def. Cuba (1B) 26-24, 11-22, 22-25, 26-24, 15-11
Sept. 20 (Match 17): USA (1A) def. Canada (2B) 32-30, 19-25, 25-19, 26-24